A man charged with possession of a firearm after a gun was found in the trunk of his car following a mass shooting at a Cumberland County birthday party held in his honor has been ordered jailed pending trial.
Three people were killed and 11 wounded May 22when gunfire broke out at a home on East Commerce Street in Fairfield Township.
Darrell M. Dawkins, 31, of Bridgeton, was arrested for unlawful possession of a firearm after a purple and silver 9mm Taurus handgun was found in the trunk of his Camaro as investigators combed the shooting scene for clues.
Dawkins is not accused of using the weapon.
Prosecutors do not allege that the gun was fired during the incident and no shell casings from the firearm were recovered at the scene, Assistant Prosecutor Charles Wettstein noted during a Thursday afternoon hearing.
Several hundred people had gathered for the party and trouble apparently began after attendees at another party nearby showed up at the birthday gathering.
Asia Hester, 25, and Kevin Elliott, 30, both of Bridgeton, and Millville 19-year-old Brailyn Holmes died of gunshot wounds. One victim remains hospitalized, police said this week.
No one has been charged in the killings and no motive has been revealed. Police describe the incident as a targeted attack, but have not said who was targeted.
Dawkins has denied ownership of the weapon and suggested someone at the party could have placed it in his vehicle, adding that his windows were down.
Police attempt to get into a vehicle as they investigate an overnight shooting at a South Jersey house party in Fairfield Township, May 23, 2021. Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
“He alleged that the person acting as security was in possession of that gun earlier in the evening and went into the trunk of the vehicle shortly after the shooting and also when he came back to the property the next day,” Wettstein said.
The prosecutor noted, however, that a search of Dawkins’ phone revealed a photo of what appears to be the same weapon from April 30.
Dawkins faces at least 3 1/2 years in prison if convicted on the second-degree charge of unlawful possession of a firearm.
While he has no prior indictable convictions as an adult, the prosecution pointed to six disorderly persons offenses, including for resisting arrest and hindering apprehension, several failures to appear in court and a juvenile sentence for robbery as grounds for holding him pending trial.
Wettstein also stated that police had difficulty locating Dawkins for a couple of days after the shooting.
Defense attorney Terry Stomel countered that, once Dawkins was aware he was being sought, he cooperated with investigators.
In arguing for his client’s release, Stomel noted that he is married, has a child and has been employed at a local glass factory for several years. He said that Dawkins’ run-ins with the law dated primarily from his younger days.
“He has no prior convictions. He has no violent convictions,” Stomel said, adding that Dawkins tried to assist police after the recent shooting. “Mr. Dawkins, I believe, was helping law enforcement … when a number of the people were injured.”
Superior Court Judge Robert Malestein was unconvinced be these assurances and, based on Dawkins’ past record, ordered him jailed pending trial.
He is scheduled to return to court July 15 for a pre-indictment hearing.
Dawkins’ brother, Kevin K. Dawkins, 36, of Bridgeton, is the only other person charged so far in the case.
Witnesses told police he fired a handgun at the party and security camera video shows him holding a gun, according to police.
He is not accused of shooting anyone and is charged only with gun possession offenses. He remains jailed pending a detention hearing slated for next week.
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Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com.
Man charged with gun possession after fatal mass shooting jailed pending trial - NJ.com
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